Cutler says he’ll understand if Bears draft a quarterback

The Bears appear set to enter the 2016 season with Jay Cutler as their starting quarterback. But Cutler says he realizes this could be the year that the Bears draft his replacement.

Cutler told David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune that if the Bears use the 11th overall pick in the draft on a quarterback, Cutler will be ready for that.

“I would say I get it, I totally get it,” Cutler said. “At some point it’s going to happen. They’re going to get somebody else. I’m not going to play until I’m 43. I understand that. But on the flip side, I’d be like, we really could have gotten somebody who can help me right now. So that would be my two reactions. If they do it, I will help whoever they bring in as much as I could and kind of see how it unfolds.”

Cutler is coming off a season in which he had a career-high passer rating of 92.3, and at 32 years old he probably has a few more years left in him. On the other hand, if a quarterback like Jared Goff or Paxton Lynch is there at No. 11, the Bears may decide that’s not a quarterback they can pass on. If that’s what happens, Cutler sounds like he’s ready to accept it.

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The Patriots have been drafting and signing QBs since Brady’s rookie year. I’ve yet to hear a peep out of him . If teams haven’t realized that you need two serviceable QBs in the league, then they’ve learned nothing from the lessons of Curtis Painter.
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I read that whole piece. Cutler deserves some credit for the growing he’s done. I look back and still can’t believe what a jerk he was, usually for no good reason. But he has owned that period of of life and has genuinely changed his ways.

He might, but I won’t. It’s a terrible draft class for QBs and we have his rights for at least 2 more yrs yet IIRC. Focus this year’s draft on defense and OL and bring in our QB of the future next year.

Why not- Cutler has a good attitude. Very few QBs can come in and start immediately with great success. Look, the best QB in football right now sat on the bench behind Farve for a long time before he became the starter. BTW- we needed a QB back then because we had sparatic Grossman and who did Angelo take at #4 instead of Rogers who went late in first round. They took Cedric Benson who was a bust. Angelo was a horrific GM- IMO, the jury is out on Pace- he stands behind his bad decision to give Marshall away for nothing, Marshall on this years team might have gotten the Bears to first round of playoffs. Even with Marshalls personality quirks, this coaching staff could have kept him in line. The Tressman crew had no respect and hence lost control of whole team, not just Marshall.

Pass rusher, DL help, 2 ILBs, 2 CBs, LT, RG, C, S, maybe another WR if Jeffery walks and the Bears would draft a QB that probably won’t play for at least 2 years in the first round? The Bears can add another 5 years until they make the playoffs if they do that.

I would not consider either Goff or Lynch a QB you can’t pass up. I could see the Bears drafting either one if they are there, but only if A’Shawn Robinson, DeForrest Buckner, and the two OTs are gone (Tunsil and Stanley). There are so many holes on the Bears roster, and realistically, the QBs will likely be gone before 11.

In a year where none of the QBs coming out exactly look like locks and we have much, much more pressing needs at every level of defense and on the O-Line, I’d be extremely annoyed if we reached for a QB. Cutler played really well this year. It wasn’t his fault. We don’t have a strong pass rush, don’t have a number 1 corner, and could use a high end left tackle. We need all of those spots more than Cutler’s replacement.

unless one of those guys falls to them they would be foolish to waste a pick that high on a developmental qb. Pace has shown so far he knows what he is doing so I do not look for them to do something stupid like draft a qb other than those 2. it would be great if they could because he would not have to start right away and could get the rodgers treat treatment and sit and learn for a couple of years. but I think they will sign a young free agent or make a trade for a competent backup. they can’t do any worse than clausen or whoever the back up is now. maybe they can give Lovie a call and get Glennon for a 6th or 7th rounder. he showed potential until the qb killer became the coach.

Surprisingly many of the teams drafting in the top 10 aren’t in need of a QB. Trade cutler for a 4 and a 3 to a team like Houston or NYJ, and draft the best available QB. Pay Gase Head coach money. In 5 years bears will be a perennial SB contender.

When interviewed (and if you listened to his show on ESPN radio), he’s a very cordial, mature dude with a dry sense of humor. He also does a lot of work for charity. For some reason, he’s gotten this ‘bad guy’ vibe for what? Having jerk face? Yelling at teammates? Because we’ve never seen Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers have meltdowns on the sidelines.

He’s being a smart pragmatic person.

That said, the QB draft is weak this year and mid to late round guys just don’t pan out (Wilson in 3rd the exception and Brady in the 6th the exception to the exception that also happened to be almost 20 years ago). The Bears have MUCH more pressing needs – D Line, ILB, MLB, Safety, CB, LT, RT, TE, etc.

vegasbearfan says:
Jan 6, 2016 9:12 AM
Why not- Cutler has a good attitude. Very few QBs can come in and start immediately with great success. Look, the best QB in football right now sat on the bench behind Farve for a long time before he became the starter. BTW- we needed a QB back then because we had sparatic Grossman and who did Angelo take at #4 instead of Rogers who went late in first round. They took Cedric Benson who was a bust. Angelo was a horrific GM- IMO, the jury is out on Pace- he stands behind his bad decision to give Marshall away for nothing, Marshall on this years team might have gotten the Bears to first round of playoffs. Even with Marshalls personality quirks, this coaching staff could have kept him in line. The Tressman crew had no respect and hence lost control of whole team, not just Marshall.

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As much as I love watching Aaron Rodgers play, I’m just not willing to call him ‘the best in the game’ this season. Yes, his line is bad and yes Nelson was out, but he looks way off. He certainly isn’t playing like it.

As far as sitting behind a HOF and grooming for 4 years, those days are over. Ostweiler doesn’t count because that was a backup being a 38 year old.

The only other comparison is Garropolo. He wasn’t a first rounder like Rodgers was and who knows if he’ll be anything after Brady retires.

First rounders (which Rodgers was) are expected to join teams and make impacts immediately.

Philip Rivers is arguably a Hall of Famer. Does anyone know who his backup is? Is it a first round pick?

Although this opinion is from afar, it sure seemed like Cutler not only played well, but avoided all the attitude controversy garbage this year — even in a down year for the Bears. Then again, while his position on drafting a replacement QB is admirable, I’d be more interested in what he thinks about Urlacher’s new hair.

I’ve been a supporter of Jay since he’s come to the Bears. I’m glad he’s still here and will be here. The truth is the majority of his time was squandered here, much like the old defense. The smart thing to do is draft his replacement and let him sit and learn. Not this year though, there’s too many needs. Not to mention, after this year Jay’s contract gets much cheaper.

I am no fan of Jay Cutler but for now he’s the best (only) option at quarterback for the Bears since they’re financially married to him for another 2 years. This years draft (and free agency) HAS TO BE focused on improving the defense!!! The old addage still rings true…”defense wins championships”. If you have a good/great defense that can make an average offense look better and hide a lot of flaws. I do agree that the Bears should add some depth along the o-line and at the skill positions (especially at QB…they need a solid backup in case anything happens to Cutler…physically OR emotionally/mentally) but they need STARTERS all over the defense. No more 1-year wonder free agent retreads, legitimate star caliber starters who are young enough to be a big part of the Bears future. Look, I realize we can’t stack every position with a pro bowler but Pace definitely needs to add bona-fide play makers to this defense if this team is expected to improve upon this year, he has about $60 million in cap space and while he shouldn’t put all his eggs in one basket he can’t settle for average players to fill the holes in free agency. I also know Pace’s preferred method is to draft the “best player available regardless of position”…that may work some years when you have a well rounded team that just needs some tweaking but this team has glaring holes (mostly on defense) that need to be filled and I don’t care if the #1 WR is still on the board when the #11 pick comes up…if the #2 or #3 linebacker is still there he would help fill a significant hole and make the defense better form Day 1. Save the BPA route for when this team has a balanced offense and defense but until than Pace can’t continue to choose offense over defense like he did in last years draft (6 picks and 4 were on offense including the 1st rounder with only 2 for defense). If he focuses 90% of free agency and the draft on fixing the defense than the Bears should be well on the way towards respectability and a possible playoff berth!!!

Cutler is the single most average QB in the league’s AVERAGE tier of Quarterbacks. He couldn’t be any more middle of the road. For every pin point TD is a heart breaking INT. He will never do anything of note in this league. On the bright side, he could star in the CFL…….maybe.

For what anybody in this league is getting from the QB position nowadays, he’s not overpaid. The Bears were one of the better coached teams in the league this year (with the exception of real-time game management), meaning – the talent blows. If Jay Cutler is in Arizona this year he’s MVP material. So I give him a lot of credit for being a real pro, particularly this year, and these comments are just one example.

That said, I would lose my mind if the Opie and Floyd The Barber show drafted a QB at #11. Nobody out there and we have so many needs.

That’s the right attitude for Cutler to take, and my gut reaction is that he’s being sincere, as the talk on how he’s dealt with other QB’s on the roster, wherever he’s been at, has always been positive in terms of his willingness to help and go about his business.

To be quite honest, I’m going to be surprised if the Bears splurge a first round pick on a QB right now, though. The roster doesn’t seem equipped for that situation. I do think they’ll bring in another QB, possibly to take Fales spot and groom, but with so many major needs, the first round seems tough. My thinking is that Pace is going to want to build up the supporting cast, so when a young QB is thrust in there, he won’t be at a disadvantage. Let’s face it …without Cutler, and with many other QB’s … the offense would’ve been far worse this past year. The weapons simply weren’t consistently available, and the offensive line arguably still needs help.

Add in the major defense needs (namely pass rusher, secondary), and it’s just hard to see them make a move in the first. Not impossible, but tough to see. Now, if someone like Christian Hackenberg or Connor Cook is available in the middle rounds (2nd-4th), I could definitely see the Bears jumping all over that.

oh boy…the Bears are not taking a QB in the 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round or 4th round. Maybe in the 5th round if someone like Connor Cook were to drop, but day one and two of 2016 draft will be the best defensive player available heavy for the Bears.

Goff and Lynch both are not 1st round talents and would only go on day one to teams desperate for a quarterback.